Token South Africa Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 (edited) There's a quite a debate going on in a FB group about whether all Triathlons should be wetsuit legal. I think a lot of people a frightened away from giving Triathlons ago because they're anxious about the swim. What do you guys think? Would like to add the Hub opinion to the page. Go and check it out and add your voice. Edited March 10, 2011 by TokenSA
Prozac Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 As a newbie to Triathlons, Yes its the swim that "get" me. The water temperature does not bother me but a wetsuit does help with boyancy. It makes me feel "safe" in the water. I'll Vote - Yes !
Capricorn Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 I wonder if it stems from this change proposed last year: The World Triathlon Corporation announced today that it will be changing certain swimwear and wetsuit rules for all Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events starting in September of 2010. The major changes include an adjustment in the temperature at which wetsuits can be worn and the elimination of swimskins in non-wetsuit legal swims. See the complete press release from the World Triathlon Corporation below: Today, World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), owners of the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 Series, announces modifications to several rules and regulations relating to the swim at U.S. races. Effective September 1, 2010, which is the start of Ironman’s 2011 competition season, new rules for apparel and wetsuits will apply at all Ironman and 70.3 events in the U.S., including both World Championships. The amendments were made to further standardize rules in the Ironman/70.3 Series and ensure a fair playing field at events around the globe. The changes will include the following: * Swimwear and swim apparel must be comprised of 100 percent textile material, such as nylon or lycra, and may not include rubberized material such as polyurethane or neoprene. Swimwear may not cover the neck or extend past the shoulders or knees. Swimwear may contain a zipper. A race kit or trisuit may be worn underneath swimwear. * Wetsuits cannot measure more than 5 millimeters thick. * Wetsuits may be worn in water temperatures up to and including 24.5 degrees Celsius/76.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Athletes who choose to wear a wetsuit in water temperatures exceeding 24.5 degrees C /76.1 degrees F will not be eligible for awards, including World Championship slots. Wetsuits will be prohibited in water temperatures greater than 28.8 degrees C/84 degrees F. “Ironman recognizes the importance of showcasing the competitive element at all events. We believe these amendments place more emphasis on performance and function and less on technology, therefore staying true with the Ironman spirit,” says Ironman’s Head of Officials, Jimmy Riccitello. Ironman’s rule changes are consistent with rule changes adopted by swimming and triathlon’s international governing bodies, FINA and ITU, respectively.
SwissVan Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 Fundementaly NO!!! Wet suits are evil just like draft (cycle) legal races and probably introduced to Tri's by shagged out runners who decided to try triathlons. We all know why people like swimming in wet suits, they help you swim better and mask bad technique. If you cannot swim properly then bad luck. Obvisously if the water is to cold then wet suits should be permitted for safety reasons. I'm one of those who swim like a snake without a wetsuit, so I dont benefit from swimming without one but just hate seeing the sport being so watered down....
Seeker911 Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 I think the swim is a daunting affair for all newbies. I dont think wearing a wetsuit is going to make it any easier in the minds of the newbies. What they are really afraid of is the washing machine, the thrashing of legs and arms in the main pack, people swimming over you or someone kicking out your teeth. I do believe that staged starts are the answer here and NOT wetsuits. Limit starts to 100 to 200 a time according to some sort of seeding. Why do we always throw money at a problem first only then realizing that if we had thought the problem through carefully it could have been solved quite simply through better organization. This will do a lot to portray a different view of the swim to newbies and of course the rest of us. The swim and the race as a whole should be seen as highly organized and FUN. If I dont enjoy what I do I dont do it.
Seeker911 Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 In our deliberations lets also not forgot the poor guy who drowned recently at Midmar.
DawieO Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 I don't understand why this is even a question. Triathlon is meant to be challenging. Next thing we'll be talking about allowing little kites to pull us along on the bike and perhaps only ever running on flat terrain. The only viable reason (imo) to wear a wetsuit is when the water temperature presents the danger of hypothermia.
gummibear Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 Most races at the coast allow wetsuits because the sea is colder than dams. I had a very bad experience in the sea once,in very bad conditions, and almost drowned but was saved by the wetsuit.So i would say yes. On the shorter and warmer races you can opt not to.
SwissVan Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 "...swim like a snake..." is that good or bad? BAD, without a wetsuit I need to kick a lot more, when I kick things go pear shaped in that my hips and legs start waggling out sidewards to stay balanced creating drag. With a wet suit I hardly need to kick to keep my legs up in the water so they just float along behind creating a lot less drag.
Face Plant Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 a wetsuit equates to about 10sec per 100m so unless your a elite athlete it aint going to make much of a difference to your overall race time eg on a 70.3 race you going to save 3.10sec on the swim....not much for an average triathlete but that could be the difference between winning and loosing for the elites. i personally find that i swim faster in colder water than in warm water so im not bothered about a wetsuit! unless its an ultra event in really cold water where hypothermia could play a part
kennyg Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 My answer would be no... The triathlon is already disadvantaging the strong swimmer. Normally the pecentage of time gained in the entire swim can be covered reasonably quickly. The race style benefits strong bikers and runners. On a normal split say 10-12% of the total race time is swim, 50 - 55% cycle, and 35-40 % of the race is the run. So if you swim 10% quicker than the next guy you only make 1% of the total race time better, so you can work the rest out from there.
nochain Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 a wetsuit equates to about 10sec per 100m so unless your a elite athlete it aint going to make much of a difference to your overall race time eg on a 70.3 race you going to save 3.10sec on the swim....not much for an average triathlete but that could be the difference between winning and loosing for the elites. i personally find that i swim faster in colder water than in warm water so im not bothered about a wetsuit! unless its an ultra event in really cold water where hypothermia could play a partFace Plant, I think that 10sec per 100m is based on strong swimmers. My experience is that for mid of the pack guy with bad swim technique the difference becomes a lot more. A lot of the really pure duathletes and strong bike riders or runners gain much more from wetsuits being allowed than a pure triathlete with good swimming technique. I would also vote for no wetsuits as it makes the playing field level for the guy's that don't have one and the guy's that work hard on their swimming.Oh and I am one of those mid pack swimmers…Also think that the group starts would be great idea.
RaeTrewBrowne Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 Fundementaly NO!!! Wet suits are evil just like draft (cycle) legal races and probably introduced to Tri's by shagged out runners who decided to try triathlons. We all know why people like swimming in wet suits, they help you swim better and mask bad technique. If you cannot swim properly then bad luck. Obvisously if the water is to cold then wet suits should be permitted for safety reasons. I'm one of those who swim like a snake without a wetsuit, so I dont benefit from swimming without one but just hate seeing the sport being so watered down....
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